Improvement in explosive sh el ls



, sien, lor the o jeeiaile, v I I stent of time/"i". is where the projectile contains lUn tiren .lteres 'Ferrier @einen v intein' iv. nninnnli., or rrnnlinnnrnnn'rnnxsrtviirnn nueeovsinenr in snerosive snellire te fenomenos.

spvmnmlion iorlningjnrt of Leiters luicnt No. 3111.059. dated Jnnnziryf, lef-61%.;

.To @limiter/t it iii/'roy concer/t:

Be itdcriownf that I, WILLIAM TvVninninn lineman., ot' the city ol' Philadelphia., State of Pennsylvania., have invented a new and luseful improvement in lrojcctiles for 0rdnance; and i. hereby declare the following to be a iull, clear, and endet description thereof.

The nature of rny invention consists, first,

rin constructing an expanding iirechaniber around the mouth of the burning 'colnnin'of the fuse, with a dat bese and direct or quick acting vent, to expand and held the tire to 'expl ode the sh ell,not withstanding the entrance ofwotier, second, in the construction and ninnner of application oi' an improved device, to explodethe projectile on percussion, after iiring; it from e. gun, .as well as on time; third, in the construction and manner of application oi' en improved devieete explodethelproeet 7 ile on concussion after iiring it from the gun, .tourt-h, inthe constructioi'l and manner of application oi' au iniproved device to explode the p roj cetile on iinptct after ,iirin it from tl le gu n, iifth, in the construction and manner oi' application ol'nn improved device to explode the 'projectile ai.; `:my instant ottime and any place or position alter iiring it troni the gun 5 sivth,

.in the construction and manner oi" applying these improved devices together inone projectile, so as to developtheir respective properties, as cXigienc-cs may require in an action, in the sinne projectile.

For inforinntion 'I will explain that the cX- plosion loyer on percussion is caused by the nseof detonating powder or other detonating substance, to originate the'iire Without ignition by the iire generated in the gun. The plosion on concussion 7 is where the iire generated in the gun by thel cartridge ignites a. composition in n fuse carried by the projectile, which composition burns in the iiigl1t,=

and thcshoek of concussion, by a device, ad;u inits the 'tire thus generated to the explosive contents ol' the projectile. The explosion on impact is where the projectile also takes its fire from the gun and burns in the night, and by devices applic-stile nre to the explosive contents vthrough the agency of its being bedded or ciosed, or becoming a niine in any materiel n'itliout regard to shock or concustic; of any body inthe propl sion at any desired in- The e;

longitudinal section through the center o the proj eetile, with; the device for causing the ide,

motion and the devices i'or erpledngvit on percussion, on concussion, on impact, and et any desired instant of time all combined. Fig. :3 represents a side `penipective view ot' the projectile- Fig. represents c. A.top lviene ofthe cappingof the fuse withv its lead` cover 55 S removed and thetiniing-rod "W removed.

Fig'. t represents a perspective view of the bottom ol' the capping 5 and its ihre-chamber 4.. Fig. 5 represents a view ofthe lower pan-t of the chamber 1 on the line 1S, Fig. l. Fi 6 represents a ground view ofthe water-platte 2 of the iireehenibcr L Fig. 7 is a top View oi` the concussion deviceor lead stopper D. l

Fig. 8 is a ground view of the annnlarrecess, in which the concussion device is located to cover its iiring- :ents r rc; Fig. 9 is a rear vieny of the projectile. Fig. Al() is a perspec tive'vievr of the 'tiiningcrod XV removed. Fig. l1 represents a longitudinal section ofthe fuse without the concussion 'device rund withoutv the percussion device. Fig. Brisa section on the line 19 of Fig. 11, showing.;l Ythe fire-cha1nber 4 sind the vent 3 of its water table or plate A 2. Fig. 13 is a ground-plan oi' the Water-tof ble. Fig. 14. is .o longitudinal section "o` the fuse Without either the Water-table or the concussion device, or the percussion deviceor the safety attachment r; but it shows the tiniing;l 'principle in the simplest forni of fuse adapted for 'field-service. ld a top view ofthe fuse, Fig: 1i, with its lead cover and timing-rod removed.

The body A of une projectile the space E contri-.ins gunpow hollow, sind the .hollow is iilled through the filling-screw C. W' en this percussion device is orhitted, the hollow may be filled through the vfuse-hole in oer pic-den." When the percussion-expioder is employed, j

bearing.

l ,b-rass, or lead aiid',anti1nony, or typemetal,

the front D. The body A of the prQjecti-leis toor about equal'to two and a half timesits diameter. This long cylindrical body givesa goed bearing to prevent shake in the gun. 'The cylindrical part should be turned off true, and about three-hundrcths of an inch windage allowed. The front D is re-enforeed, as shown in Fig. Cl, so aste support the fuse and to compensate for the increased weight given to the rear B by the lead and copper or malleable band employed to obtain the rilie motion in the grooves of the rifle-gun, and' to close the windage, so that the ccnterof gravity shall be at about the center or middle ot' the length ofthe projectile. [n the solid shot using this band of lead and copper on' its base, this location of the center of gravity is yattained by casting a cylindrical hole in the base, extending forward to the middle of the projectile.

-The expanding band is similar to that described in my patent of January 24, 1860, i3 being the copper facing, l() the lead filling, 1 2 the groove, ll and'll the beveled facing, and 14 are lugs for large sizes of shells, for im: provenients in forming and fastening which I intend to apply for separate Letters Patent.

The percussion device for exploding the projectile consists of acylinder, F, of brass or iron screwed or secured in front at Oonto the inner end ofthe fuse-stock, and the lower "fj or rear end of the cylinder bears on the bott'om of the projectile, and is covered with pa- 'per between them., the bot-tom. ot' the project ile being faced by the same tool, whichforins the shoulder at y, so as to make a uniform In the cylinder is a strik-eigG, of

Carr'in fulminate 'i in its front and with a v magazine, j, secured by a cork, the striker, for

safety, being held by two small lead screws, Il: H, opposite the holes K K, and with a space, L, for the striker to recede in, cutting oft' the soft or lead screws by its inertia when the projectile starts in the gun, in the manner described 'in my patent of 24th January, 1860. The improvemeutin this percussion device at present consists in securing a head, M, in the cylinder by means of a pin, N, 4through it and the cylinder, er by means of screw-threads in, v vside of the cylinder, or their equivalent, below thp'inner. end of the fusecolumn, and in s ecuringthe percussioncylinder to the inner `end of the fuse-stock, as described, or -the head M may be formed el the inner end of the fuse-stock, if the safety-stopper r be omitted, thereby combining the percussion devicev with the fuse, so that both shall br capable of operating as required in the-.same project ileg' also', in forming a chamber, (y, between thehead M and the fuse-stock, with holes p p for `the safety-stopper r to act in and for the fire to pass from thefuse to the explosive contents of the projectile in the space E, notwithstanding the use of the percussion device attached to it; When the projectile strikes to penetrate an object and materially retard its velocity, the ris nmtfe of the striker, then lying in the rear of its cylinder, causes it (theA striker) totly forward and explode its fulminate against the nipple or head M, and the explosion of the magazine j drives its fire back through the holes K K, through the paper which covers them, into the powder ofthe projectile at E, causing its explosion by the time it has penetrated. I

The concussion device consistsfin forming in the metal or brass of the fusestock, around the mouth of the burning column 0, a beveledfaced annular groove, in which is set, with heavy or one thousand pounds,pressure,aring,

Z Z, of lead, covering over Atwo holes, :vx, which extend from the base of this groeve to the interior of the projectile w and filled with gunpowder secured in them by a little wax at m af. seat, excludes the fire of the fuse from the holes w', and when the lead ring, -by its metterti/,

flies forward on the concussion or penetration ofthe projectile, it admits the fire to the holes .r to-explo'de the projectile. ring is formed a chamber, "l, which receives the fire from the smaller mouth et the fuse-column n and expands it as it burns, and this chamber is large enough to receive the 'lead ring as it flies forward 'to uncover the hclesa` when the ,projectile is penetrating. The fire expands in the chamber l horizontally as it issues from the smaller aperture of thccolumn n, and passing horizontally or laterally finds its way out ol' the vents or holes 3 3, which are opposite the base ot' the chamber 1, so that any water in the flight or on ricochet that 'may enter shall not pass into the burning column, also, theem'outh of the aperture 0r column lf is slightly raised above the base of the chamber, to prevent water from entering the aperture. So, also, the mouths ofthe Vents 3 3 are slightly raised above the base. of the water table or plate 2, te prevent watcrfrom entering these holes, and prevent the extinguishment of the fuse-column, or make itheld its iire. W`hen the projectile penctratesinto any material, its velocity is retarded, and the `mo mentum ot' the lead' ring or valve causes it to il y forward out of its seat against the holes 3 3, thus uncovering the holes x and directing the iire't'o them, which, by their priming o f' powder, lead the iirc directly into andcause Athe explosion of the powder ot' the projectile in the hollow E, on concussion.

The impact device consists in forming the fuse with a cylindrical hollow', jy, and burnn ing column n open on the inner end at t, of the` same diameter with the iire-chambcrfiin a water-capping between-thc outer vent or vents, 15, and a water table or base, 2, with a vent or vents, 3, through it, se that the fuse shall carry the fire and not be extinguished by the impact or material nor by water; but the im- This lead ring Z Z, when in its-r` In front of the lead l ,fleet stopping; ille outer reus, 15, ille aeellnlul ini-ion of.' @es in. ille eylinder of the steek i'roln illellnrnnlg eeulpesitlien slloll produee :in inlle nel pressure to force illeremainingfeonlpo on imei; llrougll elle inner efrlindrielll end el. *elle sfoel; inio tile explosive powder u'llile en ill-e, und. illus explode tlleproieeiile on inlplet; also, te protect lille lnlrllille` eolllposibion from dnl'lll'llless and for sui'eily; :lud so ns to :liso apply alle cil .ingA principle, presently deseriiieflf. sel'evzl leed stopper, r, e sllorl'y disulllee inio tlliu inner end of ille stoel; ni s. s serewi-llreud is iornlelfl on it ily setting it into ille tllrellls el' nerelf-elll` die ily n pointed 'punch fol-ming' ille bowl in ille end oi' tllis' safely-stopper li .5', und :l lilil e dissolved ginnellellae irl l'lizleed around Vit :lt s lio secure ii; in piece n'zlt lrooi'flnd lig-lli; also, on ille front of ineiilse-eflppllg, l i'oljn'l fnl llnllulnrprilllillg--ellalnller, l i', and eolfier il; Wii'll :l lellllen ring or rover, iiil'itll :l llulldle, il, llywllirll ii'- .is pulled ol'iu'llen. tlle projectile is placedv in ille nluzxlellil'llle 'lo expose ille priming oiillis annuler lf'llllll'liler io ille lire oi ille gun for ignition. From the priming-ellnilllllir 'i one or more l'enls, l5, lefldillio ille lirevelll'llllA llor. Tile Vlil-elellllrll'ler ei is i'orll'led ily un. opening lllrnel'l, llered, ervensb .in ille lmiliol'u ol" ille enjlling end set over e unter iellle or plebe, wil'il one er more Tenis il ill'lrougll it,

l eonlnlnlnieuil ng uiizlltlle burning' Column. lille -rel'l'rll is swelled ulloll'e ille suri'll oi lzile pluie, so l'lliui; ellwir water ou ille pllltesllull nel; run ini-o elle reni', lull will lie dissipated und dis pellell f luiolllle outer Yellis, To prime lille lllllillg lull ellllllll'lers, :llsllrnnfl oi' quielilnlltell is eoiled around ,in Mieprinlingelllllnller 7, llllfl down olle oi ille *rents Lili, into ille iil'eellllnlilel' ni, n'llere L li ile lnezlled ,eolllpo lsilzion ila llllleed, und. ille stl-und coiled und een oil', und nnoiller strund oi'qllieli-nnll'ell extends i'l'onl ille ellnlllll-er, illrougll ille vent 3, into 'llle ellzlnlller 1, :nld eoilell loose, end u lilllle lnenled eonlpo: on plll'eed ill illllt. elllllnber'; elrlol piece el eoliennlzlieli is pressed on ille iop of ille eonlllosiillinl eelunin. e 'lllllen ille ellrlrg'e oid tile gun is iil'ed :nld ille projeeiilestzlrlsin tile `gun, Llle lend slopper r stri ps its screw-threads :lull opens ille inner end o1 Jelle steek for ille admission oiille lire tllrougg'll it. ,lflleinller end nlfly also lle closed willi nluslinv` eea-ted u'itil snellire, es in lfigg. il. lill illis il lili-le powder is iirsl; put in ille epilee 1f i'o ignite, und llloll ille cover und fire ill inelly. Tileiiringl'li'ille gun'igniies ille priming und ille composition eolnnln oi'tlle inse.

To explode ille projectile-lt any instant oi' time, il lmye invented il device oi' greet inl- `ilolrtuuee.gli! is very desirable, ill un netlion, to be able loezlrplode 'alle plzoj ecbiles at any time :lndplzl'ee fillnong infantry 0r eiwllllry, ol' in :my oljeeil, nllin the seule sllell :nld Without @peiling lille fuse or removing; it, and ljly nl quick und positivev or certain nnllrlipulelzion. To aeeomplisll'tllis result, I drive ille eonlpo` sillon column fu te burn for a' long rllnge or` period, as desired, und with e sieel rod or spindle sel; end lleld by :l die in ille llotlonl, en one side oi' tllle eolulnll, wllere ille timingrod lll is loeuted, or in izlre center oi' ille eolulnn. llle sieel rod iles oneilliell'ness olf lllill palper :lroulli'l it, lorlllinp; e peper linee to ille opening ilv will louve nlleu Llrllwn out. The eonlposl'i'ioll lllzlilY also lle drivenill u papel' ense or lining, 2l, lleld ill e :lleel die, or lleld by ille sleek ilsell', ille driving-tool being; sleel, und grooved or loored io iin l'o ille steel rod :lud notolled like :l n'lll'rr .slelll on iis end, 'llle eolnposiiil/ln lull)T eonnist ol` sevelliysix paris ol'nil'er, alix pnl-ls oi ellllreofll, :lud sixteen perle oi' sulphur well pondered und n lixed lio- `@einer llnd driven willi llllofll; lll'o tllousllnd tivo llllndled pounds pressure on ille drift lo eaell i ol' :lll inell ol" Aille eolullln. 'When ille colnposil'ioll driven, ille sleel :rod is' drown onli, leaving ille llole wit/ll ille peper luce down ille side oi' ille elllllnnllli,` "'l'l, or in its center, llelon' ille eolulllll I leuve n nlee or'ellalnlglel', i. 'i eollsiruet u inning-rod, W, of liruss,'lriill u uniek or douille, treble, ol: four-threaded serew elli on ill, il'lliell rod passes through Jelle n'lller-plzll'e 2 und serons lfln'olllgll ille nipping" 5, 'nllliell llolds or sustains il il, also easily seren'sdou'l illio ille opening' ein lill, fulfilled by ille meel red und slope il; up nsi'llr esibenllellds, so lis izo ex elude ille fire. end of' ille inning-rod is :l slile, 2li, holding a strand oi' quieli-nlultoll n', lrlliell lies in tile spnee t. Un ille upper end ol" ille inning-red is il el'eoll; or llnlldle or n ellitoll in inrxl it;

When ille. l illlillggnod is ein' llf (bien, ille fuse nlusr 'burn iis 'wllele lengill ll fore ill; Lillie eis pires, und lo sllori'ell ille l' lo elly .desired nslzlll; ille rod ilxrlled qnielzljf :nld screwed out or upllnrd, nlliell opel'lsille lele and raises tileuniek-nullen ill ille llole, so illllltwhen ille eolulnll llurlls lo sllell' ilxed point ille lire passes down -ille llole :nld qllieil-nlntell into t-lle powder, .u'lliell lnllllodee ille jllrojeetile. Tile sides oi' lille 'llilningrod nre prorided with noielles iiled ilel'osfl tllenl, llljipesilie enell oill'er. (shown on' one side in Fig. 10,) :lud lille red di is llrolcell oil' willie 'loll eilig?. euppi at one o'i' these lloi'elles nearest lo li., when iulles been screwed out to sllorl'en ille time. Euell noell und enlell illlrelld ei', die serelv, o1" eaell turn of ille rod, determines uy eeril'lilrsllorienlng of ille time igo :my der ed pointer dislnlloe, velll'sily dei'l'lruliued in iirillgl neeordi ng to ille sizeei ille illrezld, long-:iin und eonlposiiien of inse, und ille weigllll el' proieeiile, eleve.-

i;ion, und ellllrge 'used` iu 1, ille tilllillgrod eollles out in ille serewlnolzeil 17'; und l. lnwe contemplated, in son'le projectiles for .iiell:l-servioe, llo nlzlke ille rod for timing on ille seme principle, of seit eopper und smooth, (not selewleut lo slide, or'druu up to shorten ille' time, und seeure il"i by .bending it over in iront; in this serewnotell li", und elip llll'l outer end eff, illus lleldlngg und promoting 4it its setfpoinl; until tllepreieeinile explodes. By dren ng or screwing illis til'llingefoci up ille linie oi" ille illseie ellorte'ned to any insiemi; lo elluseexplesioll on linie irolll ille extreme lll ille lower' range-say l'onr or tive miles range-down to close to the gun, without opening'the fuse or shell, and while the fuse is in the projectile. The gradation ot' the time and distance will result from lthc prolmrtions, quality, and length of the composition-column, which is capable ot'iniinite variation, and ot' the charge in the eart1'idge;aznl is always'ascertained or,`

tested with every mixing or supply by tiring a few ofthe fuses or proiectiles ofthe size desircd to be used, as is usual in practice in tim# ingY fuses and proyjingporwder. 4 n Totem'per the composition of the fuse a little quicker add a little charcoal; to 'temper it slower add alittle nitcr. vThe proportions ofthe composition bei'ore stated will burn about nu inch in six seconds. The ibllowing proportions will burn aboutaninch in three seconds: niter, seventy- 'vices attached to them, as shown in the Figs.

ll, l2, and. 13, and Figs., lt and lo; and .for very large spherical shel s all the devices may be appliedHthat is, the percussion, the concussioin-the impact, nud the timing devices, asshown in section in liig. l, and in l-`igs. 2, 3,4-, 6, T, S, and 10; andin loading the spherical shell, the fuse or exploder described should always be placed in the saine position in the gun as in the ride projectile-that is, foremost, and coincident or parallcl,as to its axis, with thc n-xis or line ot' lire ot' thcgun. A small pin, (i, holds the capping", so usto un-` screw or takeout. the l'use without straining ldie tinii'ngrod. 4

Type-metal, or a combination of lead and antimony, maybe used to malle the fusesteck y, when the thickness olf the shell in front Vis suiicient to support the metal, either by a coned face oi' a screw-threzul throughout' its length, or particularly at 'or near its inner end, so that the stock shall not b e strained .or part by the inertia of such weak' nietal.. `the drawings, Figs. 1, 1l, and lil, show the fusestoclr constructed or formed so as to be supported in this manner and admit o't' the use of type-metal, it being muchcheaper'to make it of such metal. than ot' gun-mctal or brass'.

The Water-capping' and water table or plate are best made ot' brass. 'lfhestoclc may also be brass; p

`Having vnow fully-illescribed my invention, and the manner ot' making and using it, what l claim isl. The vent 15 opposite nud nearly or quite at right angles to the base oi' the chamber l,

einen to receive und discharge lthe fire as quick as possible, and deliver the Water direction the base ot; the chamber 'to diffuse itAinthe best nimmer, as described.

Expanding the'ire'in an enlarged chamber around-.the mouth 'of the'burning column,A so as to secure a large body of tire to insure the explosion ot' the shell," as described. 1;

3. Combining the percussioirexploder with the burning fuse by securing the cylinderd to' the inner end of the fuse-stock, and pro` riding it witlrarltend for the striker inside ofthe cylinder,` so as to unite the percussion and the fuse principles for explosion, yas de; scribed. l

4. The .leadstopper i', inserted in and scoured to the inner end of t-he fu sestock,by screw-threads or similar means, as and for the purpose described, and also forming the chamber or space t, between this stopper and the burning column, as described.

5. The chamber q and its opening p, between the head M and the fuse column, as described.

6. The lead or metallic stopper Z Z, in the l metal base or groove, covering the holes a', 0 and releasing on concussion to explode the projectile, as described.

7. The tire-chalnbercd Water-,clapping coms bined with the cylindrical lfuse opening or. stock carrying the burning colun1n,with cyl.` inder-opening at the inner end, to hold the tire and explode the shell on impact, as described.` The adjustable metallic timinglrod \V,.'in the burning coluflnn'or near its side, to'adjust the fuse to explode the projectile at any instant ot' time, as described, also the strand ot' quick-match u, in its lowerfend, to raiseand lead the tire down on time, as described.

S). The 'iire-chamber 4, in' the capping' bctween the water table or plate 2, and the eapping-vent formed by combining them, to prei vent cxtinguishment ofthe fuse, as described,

also the raised vent 3 ot' thc'water-table into the chamber, as described, to increase its capaci t-y to exclude water, also the chamber vl, between tbe veut 3 and the orifice of the columu r, as described. f.

l0`. Forming au enlarged or priming chamber, 7 ,around or by the side of the timingrod, to insure an ignition ot' the fuse by presentv i n g al argcprimin g-surlace for the smaller vent, and allow the timing-rod to extend through ing with. the priming, as described. 1l. The tile-cuts or fracturing-points on the side of they tiniingrod, so as to break it ott' without thc use of an instrument, in adjust,

on the timing-rod, to adjust it quickly asilescribed. l 1

WM. WHEELER HUBBELL.

Witnesses,

SAML. BILLMEYER, Jeux ".Vlu'rn;

the capping and be adjusted without interfer- A 'ing the time in action, as described, also the `quick or double three or four threaded screw 

